And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
What does Genesis 4:23 mean?
One of Cain's wicked race is the first recorded, as having broken the law of marriage. Hitherto, one man had but one wife at a time; but Lamech took two.
Key themes
Read with
Keep this verse inside Genesis 4:23-24 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Genesis 4:23
In this fragment of ancient song, we have Lamek, under the strong excitement of having slain a man in self-defense, reciting to his wives the deed, and at the same time comforting them and himself with the assurance that if Cain the murderer would be avenegd sevenfold, he the manslayer in self-defense would be avenged seventy and seven-fold. This short ode has all the characteristics of the most perfect Hebrew poetry. Every pair of lines is a specimen of the Hebrew parallelism or rhythm of sentiment and style. They all belong to the synthetic, synonymous, or cognate parallel, the second member reiterating with emphasis the first.
Key words
- Lamech
-
And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah,.
- wives
-
And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah,.
- Zillah
-
And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah,.
Context in Genesis 4
Show chapter context
Genesis 4 belongs to the early movement of the book, especially the section often described as primeval history from creation to Babel. Genesis opens the whole Bible with creation, fall, flood, Babel, and the long patriarchal story that carries the reader from Eden to Egypt. Read this chapter with the wider themes of creation, fall, and covenant in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
Explore by topic
A collection of passages on hope under pressure, future inheritance, resurrection expectation, and confidence in God’s final faithfulness.
Glossary
- Adah Person
-
Ornament. (1. ) The first of Lamech’s two wives, and the mother of Jabal and Jubal ( Gen. 4:19 , 20, 23). (2. ) The first of Esau’s three wives, the daughter of Elon the Hittite.